SOUTH AFRICA STRENGTHENS SOCIAL PROTECTION STATISTICS: ADVANCING SOCIAL PROTECTION THROUGH DATA

By Cuma Pantshwa

• Officials from several government departments are looking at best practices in implementing, accessing, monitoring, and using social protection statistics to inform policies and programmes.
• They are attending an intensive workshop jointly organised by the Department of Social Development and the International Labour Organisation.
• Reliable data allows departments to track trends in social protection programmes, identify gaps, and assess the impact of the interventions.

The Department of Social Development is working on developing a national system of social protection statistics – a crucial step in strengthening evidence-driven decision-making and policy formulation.

The system will enhance the country’s ability to monitor and evaluate social protection programmes.

This was the focus of an intensive four-day training programme taking place in Benoni, Gauteng that was jointly organised by the Department of Social Development and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Representatives from the department, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and other government departments and social security organisations are taking part in the workshop, which is taking place from 23 February 2025.

Anthony Makwiramiti from the Comprehensive Social Security Branch at the Department of Social Development underscored the importance of statistics in shaping policies and programmes. “Social protection statistics are important,” he emphasised.

“Within the social development sector, the Department of Social Development is a policy development department, so data systems inform policies and programmes.

“We use data for research, evaluation, and policy development. Ultimately, if we don’t have data, we will not be able to produce evidence-based policies.”

The first two days of the four-day training focused on monitoring and evaluation systems, which play a pivotal role in ensuring that social protection strategies are data-driven and evidence-based.

By improving data collection and analysis, policymakers and stakeholders can refine existing programmes, measure their impact, and reinforce public confidence in social protection institutions.

Makwiramiti highlighted how reliable data enables the department to monitor trends in social protection programmes such as the social grants. By tracking these trends, policymakers and researchers can identify coverage gaps and assess the overall impact of social protection interventions.

“Today we also showed the delegates our documentary on the impact of grants on our children and education outcomes, as recently seen in our Matric Class of 2024,” he added.

“We are able to measure the impact we are making through our investment.”

Des Jason from the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit at the Department of Social Development added that data sharing among all stakeholders enables government to measure the impact of various interventions such as he education outcomes of children who receive social grants.

Aligning with global standards

The training facilitated by the ILO is part of global efforts to strengthen national statistical systems.

The ILO’s Social Protection Department provides learning and capacity-building initiatives aligned with international social protection standards and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1.3, which aims to establish comprehensive social protection systems for all.

Makwiramiti emphasised that trend analysis is critical for future planning and budgeting considering the social, economic, and demographic developments in the country.

With representatives from Statistics South Africa, the National Treasury, the Department of Employment and Labour, SASSA, the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Compensation Fund, the Department of Health, the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases, and the Department of Social Development in attendance, the training fosters collaboration among key stakeholders in the social protection landscape.

Strengthening transparency and accountability

South Africa is currently considering a number of reforms aimed at strengthening the social protection system, making the workshop particularly timely.

A well-developed national system of social protection statistics will integrate data from various sources, including administrative records and labour market information systems, improving transparency and accountability in social protection reporting.

Makwiramiti also emphasised the importance of data sharing among stakeholders in building a robust social protection statistics system.

“These discussions are highly valuable for us. We are progressing the narrative that data sharing is critical as we build social protection statistics,” he said.

“Within our ecosystem, we need all stakeholders on board, holding a shared vision of producing and using the data we have as a country. This platform is critical in building a community of practice going forward working together with our international counterparts such as the ILO.”

By integrating data sources, policymakers can strengthen governance, enhance public trust, and improve transparency in social protection reporting.

The training aims to address key challenges in South Africa’s data landscape while equipping delegates with tools to build a more comprehensive and efficient social protection statistical system.

Using international tools for data collection

A key aspect of the training is familiarising participants with the ILO’s Social Security Inquiry (SSI) questionnaire, a globally recognised tool for monitoring social protection coverage, revenues, expenditures, and benefit adequacy.

Through hands-on exercises and knowledge-sharing sessions, delegates are gaining practical insights into the data cycle, from collection to analysis and dissemination.

Highlighting the benefits of adopting international tools, Makwiramiti said: “We are now able to use international tools and resources for capturing and collecting data. That’s important because it enables us to establish internationally comparable parameters and indicators. These tools give us an opportunity to compare ourselves with other countries, which is another significant benefit,”

Exploring best practices in social protection statistics

Throughout the workshop, participants explored best practices in social protection statistics, covering themes such as:

•       International legal frameworks for social protection statistics;
•       Challenges and opportunities in South Africa’s data collection landscape;
•       Ensuring reliable, quality data for evidence-based policymaking;
•       Using household surveys to monitor social protection indicators; and
•       Communicating statistical findings effectively for public engagement and policy formulation

Capacity building

As champions of social dialogue in the world of work, the ILO is dedicated to supporting the pursuit of progressive extension of social protection, including through strengthening national capacities in the area of social protection statistics.

Social Protection Specialist at the ILO, Jasmina Papa, stressed the importance of having robust reliable data about effective coverage with social protection schemes.

Such data cannot be derived from one source only. All the actors in social protection, in labour, and the budgeting space have to work together to provide a full picture about investment in and the impact of social protection on the prevention of poverty and inequality reduction.

The interactive sessions, which are set to conclude on 27 February 2025, have provided delegates the opportunity to engage in discussions and practical exercises to deepen their understanding of social protection indicators and frameworks expected to strengthen national capacity in social protection statistics, ultimately contributing to more inclusive and sustainable social security systems in South Africa.

Participants will take what they have learnt back to their respective institutions, applying new methodologies and best practices to enhance social protection monitoring.

With improved statistical frameworks, South Africa is taking a significant step toward ensuring that social protection systems remain responsive, transparent, and impactful for all.